In the third round, the center of attention was the match in Odessa where "Chornomorets" hosted "Vorskla". Both teams have been relegated but are determined to return to the elite division as quickly as possible.

The additional intrigue of this matchup was that current Vorskla coach Oleksandr Babych previously led Chornomorets, and long-time Vorskla leader Oleksandr Skliar now plays for the "seafarers."

However, both teams were under pressure from their standings in the tournament. Neither wanted to take risks or make mistakes, so the game was cautious. There were hardly any goal-scoring opportunities, although the hosts controlled possession more often. In the end, they did not secure the desired three points, and a 0-0 draw favored their competitors.

As last year, "Agrobusiness" is starting confidently. Podolia relies on solid defense and the attacking prowess of striker Maxim Voytikhovskiy, which pays off. In their match against Metalist, who again fielded an unoptimal lineup, Oleksandr Chizhevsky's charges kept a clean sheet, with Roman Kuzmin scoring the only goal — 1-0.

A great deal of interest was generated by the game in Horodok, where debutant "Probiy" hosted neighbors from Chernivtsi. The hosts decided to play boldly and openly but miscalculated. Bukovyna had a noticeable advantage in individual skill and quick actions, while Horodok's mistakes near their own goal led to four conceded goals. However, Probiy fought until the end and reduced the deficit to its minimum in stoppage time — 3-4.

Meanwhile, "PrzypKarpatia-Blagos" could have topped the table with a win over Chernihiv. But their coach Oleg Ripan's charges did not capitalize on this opportunity. On the contrary, the city dwellers secured an assured away victory thanks to Vyacheslav Koidan's hat-trick — 3-0.

Not lagging behind the group leaders is "Ingulets," which faced Ternopil's "Niva" in the reporting round. The game was evenly matched and interesting, with both teams pushing forward. The hosts went ahead late in the match thanks to Roman Volokhaty's strike, a native of Ternopil football. However, the final word remained with the visitors, who secured a draw — 2-2.

Results and standings table